Bariloche Holidays
Bariloche
Holidays
Swiss-style lakes, South America's best skiing, world-class chocolate and Andean wilderness — Bariloche is Argentina's most beautiful resort town
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Flight Time
13–14h to Buenos Aires, then 2h internal flight to Bariloche (BRC)
Best Time
July–September (skiing); November–March (trekking, lakes, outdoor activities)
Country
Argentina
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Bariloche Holiday Guide
San Carlos de Bariloche is Argentina's most beautiful resort town — a Swiss-style city of 130,000 people on the southern shore of Lago Nahuel Huapi in the Lake District of northern Patagonia, surrounded by snow-capped Andean peaks, ancient Valdivian temperate rainforest and some of the most spectacular lake scenery in the world. It is a city that looks like it was transplanted from the Swiss Alps — stone and timber buildings with steep pitched roofs, chocolate shops on every corner, and a backdrop of mountains and lakes that rivals anything in Europe.
Bariloche is Argentina's premier ski resort in winter (July–September) and one of its finest trekking and outdoor adventure destinations in summer (November–March). The Cerro Catedral ski resort, 20km from the city, is the largest ski resort in South America — 120 runs covering 600 hectares with a vertical drop of 1,000m and some of the finest skiing in the southern hemisphere. In summer, the same mountains offer world-class trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, white-water rafting and fly-fishing.
The Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina's oldest national park (established 1934), surrounds the city and protects 7,050 square kilometres of lakes, forests and mountains. The Circuito Chico (a 65km scenic drive around the lake) and the Llao Llao Peninsula (home to the legendary Llao Llao Hotel) are the most popular excursions. The Seven Lakes Route, connecting Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes through seven glacial lakes, is one of the most beautiful drives in South America.
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Average Temperatures
Jan
20°C
Feb
19°C
Mar
16°C
Apr
12°C
May
8°C
Jun
5°C
Jul
4°C
Aug
6°C
Sep
8°C
Oct
12°C
Nov
15°C
Dec
18°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Bariloche
The ski slopes, lakes, chocolate, trekking and extraordinary Andean scenery that make Bariloche Argentina's most beautiful and versatile resort.
Cerro Catedral — South America's Finest Skiing
Cerro Catedral is the largest ski resort in South America — 120 runs covering 600 hectares with a vertical drop of 1,000m, a base altitude of 1,050m and a summit of 2,388m. The resort has 37 lifts, excellent snow conditions (July–September) and a well-developed infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and ski schools. The skiing ranges from gentle beginner slopes to challenging off-piste terrain. The views from the summit — across Lago Nahuel Huapi to the Chilean border — are extraordinary. The resort is 20km from Bariloche city.
Lago Nahuel Huapi — The Jewel of the Lake District
Lago Nahuel Huapi is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world — a vast, deep, turquoise glacial lake covering 557 square kilometres, surrounded by snow-capped Andean peaks and ancient Valdivian temperate rainforest. The lake is the centrepiece of Nahuel Huapi National Park and offers kayaking, sailing, fishing, swimming and boat trips to the Isla Victoria (home to a forest of giant arrayán trees) and the Bosque de Arrayanes on the Quetrihué Peninsula. The Circuito Chico scenic drive follows the lake shore for 65km.
Llao Llao Hotel — The Most Iconic Hotel in Argentina
The Llao Llao Hotel and Resort is the most iconic hotel in Argentina — a magnificent stone and timber building on a peninsula between Lago Nahuel Huapi and Lago Moreno, 25km west of Bariloche, designed by architect Alejandro Bustillo in 1938 in the style of a Swiss mountain lodge. The hotel has been the destination of choice for Argentine presidents, international celebrities and discerning travellers for over 80 years. Even if you are not staying, the hotel's restaurant and afternoon tea are worth the trip for the views alone.
Seven Lakes Route — One of the World's Great Drives
The Seven Lakes Route (Ruta de los Siete Lagos) is one of the most beautiful drives in South America — a 110km road connecting Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes through seven glacial lakes (Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Villarino, Falkner, Hermoso and Meliquina), ancient forests, waterfalls and Andean peaks. The route passes through Villa La Angostura, a charming village on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi, and the Bosque de Arrayanes — a forest of ancient myrtle trees with cinnamon-coloured bark found almost nowhere else on earth.
Chocolate — The Sweet Capital of Argentina
Bariloche is the chocolate capital of Argentina — a city where Swiss and German immigrants established a chocolate-making tradition in the early 20th century that has grown into an industry of over 50 chocolate shops on the main street (Mitre) alone. The chocolate is made with high-quality Argentine dairy products and imported cacao; the truffles, pralines and hot chocolate are exceptional. The annual Fiesta Nacional del Chocolate in Easter week draws visitors from across Argentina. Rapa Nui, Mamuschka and Abuela Goye are the most celebrated chocolatiers.
Trekking — World-Class Trails in the Andes
Nahuel Huapi National Park offers some of the finest trekking in South America. The Refugio Frey circuit (20km, 2 days) climbs through ancient forests to a mountain hut beside a glacial lake beneath dramatic granite spires. The Cerro López trail (16km return) offers panoramic views of the lake district. The Pampa Linda valley, at the base of Cerro Tronador (3,491m), is accessible by bus and offers day hikes to the Black Glacier and the Ventisquero Negro. The Circuito Chico can be walked or cycled in a day.
Cerro Tronador — The Thundering Volcano
Cerro Tronador (3,491m) is an extinct stratovolcano on the Argentine-Chilean border, 80km west of Bariloche — the highest peak in the Lake District and one of the most dramatic mountains in Patagonia. The name (Thunderer) comes from the sound of ice blocks calving from the glaciers on its flanks. The Pampa Linda valley, at the base of the mountain, is accessible by bus from Bariloche and offers day hikes to the Ventisquero Negro (Black Glacier) — a dramatic cascade of dark, debris-covered ice.
Fly-Fishing — World-Class Trout in Andean Rivers
The rivers and lakes of the Bariloche region are among the finest fly-fishing destinations in the world — crystal-clear Andean streams and glacial lakes teeming with brown trout, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon introduced by European settlers in the early 20th century. The season runs November–April. The Limay, Traful and Manso rivers are the most celebrated; the Traful in particular is considered one of the finest dry-fly rivers in the world. Guided fishing trips are available from Bariloche and the surrounding estancias.
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Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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